Stool



1955 L. B. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,702,584

STOOL Filed Feb. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Lee B. Williams Coda M. McFar/in INVENTORS.

Feb. 22, 1955 B.-wn |AMs ETAL STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1954 Lee B. Will/0112s Coda M. McFar/in INVENTORS.

United States Patent STOOL Lee B. Williams and Coda M. McFarlin, Rogers, Ark.; said Williams assignor to said McFarlin Application February 15, 1954, Serial No. 410,293

10 Claims. (Cl. 155-123) This invention relates to a stool and more particularly to a device having a back and removable posts therefor, which back can be also converted to a table.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel means for removably mounting and securing a back post to a stool.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stool with a back which can be simply and efficiently converted to a table.

A further object of this invention is to provide a back post and back with novel means for converting the back to a table.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a stool having the above characteristics which is simple and efficient in construction, and durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stool forming the subject of this invention with the back mounted thereon in back supporting position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stool forming the subject of this invention with the back mounted thereon and converted to a table;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stool forming the subject of this invention with the back and supporting post removed;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the stool forming the subject of this invention with the back in back supporting position;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the back supporting post with the back shown in table position;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rear of the back;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the back supporting post; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the retaining member for supporting the lower end of the back supporting post.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the improved stool forming the subject of this invention includes a seat portion 10 having a plurality of legs 12 secured to the undersurface thereof for supporting the seat. As shown in the drawings, the legs 12 are preferably three in number, and two of the legs 12 are braced by a member 14 extending between the legs. Secured to the midpoint of the member 14 is an additional brace 16 which is connected at its other end to the remaining leg 12. Suitable dowels 18 may be used for connecting the braces 14 and 16 to the legs 12, as Well as for connecting the brace 16 to the brace 14.

The seat 10 is provided with an extension 20 extending rearwardly therefrom in substantial alignment with the seat. This extension 20 is connected to the seat 10 adjacent the connection of the leg 12 which is connected to the brace 16. The extension 20 is provided with a rectangular-shaped central opening 22 which extends vertically therethrough. The forward and rear edges of this aperture 22 slope downwardly and inwardly toward the leg 12. Secured to the leg 12 which is connected to the brace 16 is a vertically extending member 24. The member 24 is connected to the leg 12 by suitable dowels 26. The upper corner of the member 24 which is adjacent the leg 12 is provided with a slot 28 which extends from 2,702,584 Patented Feb. 22, 1955 the upper side thereof to the face adjacent the leg 12. Thilsi slot 28 forms with the leg 12 an upwardly opening poc et.

A back post 30 is provided for attaching a suitable back rest to the stool. As seen in Figure 7, this back post 30 is formed of an upper enlarged section 32 and a lower reduced section 34. The external dimensions of the lower reduced portion 34 are the same as the internal dimensions of the aperture 22. The back post 30 is adapted to be positioned on the stool with the reduced portion 34 passing through the aperture 22 in extension 20 and with the lower end of the reduced portion 34 being received in the pocket formed by groove 28 and engaging the leg 12. The lowermost end of post 30 is tapered, as at 36, so that the tapered portion will rest against the leg 12 when the post is in position. Further, the shoulder formed between the reduced portion 34 and the enlarged portion 32 will rest on the upper surface of the extension 20. A transverse slot 38 is provided in the reduced portion 34 and spaced from the junction of the enlarged portion 32 with the reduced portion 34 a distance equal to the thickness of the extension 20. A pin 40 is adapted to be inserted through the slot 38 when the post is in position on the stool so as to lock the post against longitudinal movement.

The upper enlarged section 32 of post 30 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 42 which extends downwardly from the upper end of the post. The purpose of this slot 42 will be explained later. Secured to the upper end of the enlarged section 32 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a member 44. The upper surface of member 44 is in substantial alignment with the upper face of the post 30. Suitable dowels 46 may be utilized for securing the member 44 in position on the post 30.

The back 48 is formed of an upper section 50 and a lower section 52. The upper section 50 is secured to the lower section 52 by means of suitable hinges 54 which connect the lower edge of the upper section 50 to the upper ridge of the lower section 52. The hinges 54 are positioned so that the upper section 50 can pivot in one direction only with respect to the lower member 52. Secured to the rear face of the lower section 52 are a pair of spaced parallel ears 56 which are spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of the upper portion 32 of post 30. Extending between the cars 56 are a pair of spaced parallel pins 58. These pins 58 are adapted to be received in the slot 42 with one ear 56 disposed on each side of the section 32 of post 30. Thus, it will be apparent that the ears 56 and pins 58 from a carriage whereby the lower section052 may be moved vertically with respect to the post 3 A dowel 60 extends through the member 44 and through the section 32 of post 30 adjacent the upper end thereof. This dowel 60 extends transverse to the slot 42 and forms a stop therein for limiting the upward movement of the lower section 52 of the back 48. It will be readily apparent that upward movement of the back 48 will allow the section 50 to be moved to a horizontal position resting on. the member 44 when the back 48 is in its uppermost position with the upper pin 58 engaging the dowel 60.

Secured to the upper portion 50 and in alignment with the ears 56 on portion 52 are a pair of spaced parallel ears 62. A pin 64 extends between the ears 62 and is parallel to the pins 58. When the back 48 is in back supporting position, the pin 64 is adapted to be received in the upper end of slot 42 and resting against the upper surface of the dowel 60. This will provide an additional support for the back 48. When the back 48 is moved to table forming position, the pin 64 is adapted to rest against the rear face of member 44 for more rigidly maintaining the upper section 50 in a horizontal position.

The lower face of member 44 may be contoured so as to form a convenient hand grip whereby the complete stool assembly may be lifted or whereby the back support post 30 and the back 48 may be removed from the stool when pin 40 is removed.

In practical use, when the back 48 is in the position shown in Figure l, the stool can be used as a conventional chair with a person facing away from the back 48. When the back 48 is moved to table forming position with the section 50 in a horizontal position, a person using the stool will straddle the extension 20, whereby the table will be positioned directly in front of such a person. If desired, the back support post and the back may be removed from the stool and the stool used as a conventional three-legged stool.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stool comprising a seat portion, a plurality of legs secured to said seat portion for supporting the same, an extension projecting rearwardly of and in approximate alignment with said seat and being provided with a vertically extending aperture therethrough in alignment with one of said legs, a vertically extending back post removably received in said aperture with the lower end thereof engaging said one of said legs, means for retaining said lower end in engagement with said leg, and a transversely extending back slidably secured to the upper end of said back post.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means comprises a vertically extending member secured to said leg, said member being provided with a slot in one corner thereof defining with said leg a pocket for the reception of said back post.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said back post is provided with a reduced lower portion, said reduced portion extending through said aperture with the lower edge of the upper enlarged portion resting on the upper surface of said extension, a transverse aperture in said reduced portion spaced from said enlarged portion a distance equal to the thickness of said extension, and a pin extending through said aperture beneath said extension to prevent longitudinal sliding movement of said back post.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said back post is provided with a rearwardly extending member secured to the upper end thereof, said rearwardly extending member having the upper surface thereof in alignment with the upper end of said back post, said back having a portion thereof adapted to be moved to a horizontal position resting on said member when said back is moved to its uppermost position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said back is formed of an upper portion and a lower portion, said back post being provided with a longitudinally extending slot extending downwardly from the upper end of said back post, said lower portion of said back being provided with a carriage secured thereto and slidable in said slot, said upper portion being hingedly secured to the upper edge of said lower portion for movement rearwardly with respect to said lower portion.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein a stop member is provided in the upper end of said slot for limiting upward movement of said carriage, a locking member secured to said upper portion, said locking member being received in said slot above said stop when said back is in its lowermost position, said locking member engaging the rear face of said rearwardly extending member when said back is in its uppermost position.

7. A stool comprising a seat portion, a plurality of legs secured to said seat portion for supporting the same, a back post secured to said seat, a transversely extending back slidably secured to the upper end of said back post, said back having a portion thereof adapted to be moved to a horizontal position when said back is moved to its uppermost position.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said back post is provided with a rearwardly extending member secured to the upper end thereof, said rearwardly extending member having the upper surface thereof in alignment with the upper end of said back post, said portion of said back movable to a horizontal position resting on said member when in horizontal position.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said back is formed of an upper portion and a lower portion, said back post being provided with a longitudinally extending slot extending downwardly from the upper end of said back post, said lower portion of said back being provided with a carriage secured thereto and slidable in said slot, said upper portion being hingedly secured to the upper edge of said lower portion for movement rearwardly with respect to said lower portion.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein a stop member is provided in the upper end of said slot for limiting upward movement of said carriage, a locking member secured to said upper portion, said locking member being received in said slot above said stop when said back is in its lowermost position, said locking member engaging the rear face of said rearwardly extending member when said back is in its uppermost position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,079 Williamson Aug. 7, 1906 1,757,960 Greenstreet May 13, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,792/26 Australia Nov. 3, 1926 535,288 Germany Oct. 8, 1931 

